Task oriented workstation with adjustable supports and variable assist pulley

ABSTRACT

A task-oriented workstation having a plurality of adjustable supports and work surfaces. The supports are linked to work surfaces as well as holders for workstation paraphernalia such as monitors and keyboards. In preferred embodiments, each support is preferably highly articulated, offering multiple degrees of freedom, i.e., translation and rotation about the several axes. A feature of a workstation embodiment is a variable assist pulley used to provide biased approximated linear bias to an object to be elevated. Another feature concerns the ability to easily modify the initial level of elevation bias provided to a track mounted support. Additional features of the workstation include car-mounted horizontal supports and constant angle horizontal surfaces.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is directed towards a task-oriented workstation having a plurality of adjustable supports and work surfaces. The supports are linked to work surfaces as well as holders for workstation paraphernalia such as monitors and keyboards. In preferred embodiments, each support is preferably highly articulated, multiple degrees of freedom, i.e., translation and rotation about the several axes.

Embodiments of the workstation invention comprise a primary vertical column having a generally vertical track portion. The track portion may be integral with the column or may be attached to or associated with the column, depending upon the desired mode of implementation. The track portion is formed to slidingly receive a car therein and/or thereon, where the car comprises means for receiving a support arm, which is intended to provide sufficient support for a targeted object such as a computer monitor or work surface. The car comprises friction reducing elements such as bushings, roller bearings, and/or HDPE blocks in singularity or combination to reduce the coefficient of friction between the car and the generally vertical track portion, whether under load or not. By this arrangement, a user may modify the relative elevation of the car, and thereby modify the position of the support arm and related structure.

While the position of the car on any track portion may be maintained through conventional means such as stoppers, set screws, toggles or other motion interferences means, in one subgroup of embodiments within this series an optional canting feature is used. By this feature, the position of the car is maintained through a canting or camming action whereby the geometry of the means for receiving a support arm, in the form of a support arm interface, pivotally contacts the track portion. In one version thereof, the car is fit in or on the track portion, and a bracket is attached to an exposed portion of the car if the car does not already have such a feature integrated therewith. The bracket or integral feature pivotally receives the support arm interface, which in this case is a housing. The housing extends past one side of the car, and preferably the lower portion of the car, such that frictional contact with the track is possible when the housing is pivoted on the bracket. When an off-vertical load vector (i.e., one that is convergent to the car) is presented to the car by the support arm, a torque arm is created, which causes the extending portion of the housing to contact the track portion. The greater the load, the greater the force present between the housing and the track portion. If the friction between the housing and the track portion resulting from the force is sufficient at the point of impingement, the car will remain stationary as long as the load is present. In this manner, a user need only lift the support arm to move the assembly up; to move it down, the user need only maintain a near vertical alignment with the pivot point on the car/bracket and/or not exceed the critical load necessary to cause frictional engagement between the track portion and the housing.

Those persons skilled in the art will appreciate that alternative configurations are possible, and include establishing a suitable geometry such that the car is pivotal in the track portion and includes at least one high-friction track abutting feature whereby movement of the car in the track portion is arrested upon canting of the car in the track.

In another subgroup of embodiments within this series, a distal end of a cable, which has a proximal end anchored to a variable assist pulley, is attached to one end of the car. The variable assist pulley comprises a drum and a rotational bias element linked to the drum and a mechanical ground such that the force imparted to the variable assist pulley by the cable is at least partly counteracted by the rotational bias element. In certain embodiments, the rotational bias element is a coil spring, adjusted to be operative over the range of motion of the car. The result of this arrangement is that the force imparted upon the car by the weight of the support arm and targeted object is at least partially counteracted by the rotational bias imparted by the coil spring.

A feature of this aspect of the invention relates to a known deficiency of coil springs: the rotational bias imparted by a coil spring is not linear over the range of operation. To counteract this deficiency, a feature of the invention provides for modifying the mechanical advantage of the variable assist pulley, as will now be described. As the tension in the coil spring decreases, which results in a decrease of imparted force (tension) on the cable attached to the car, the cable is progressively positioned on increasing diameter portions of the drum, thereby increasing mechanical advantage and mitigating the decreased force imparted by the coil spring. The rate of progressive positioning of the cable on the drum is a function of the rate of decrease in effective tension imparted by the coil spring, and is therefore not static. By simple calculations, the skilled practitioner is able to ascertain the correct correlation between the two values, thereby establishing the appropriate rate of increased mechanical advantage as the tension force exerted by the coil spring decreases.

Another feature of this aspect of the invention relates to the variable loads encountered by the car when the support arm carries targeted accessories of differing weights. To address this condition, this feature provides means for modifying the drum diameter, thereby modifying the static mechanical advantage provided by the variable assist pulley. In such embodiments, the drum comprises an outer surface that is segmented in the axial direction. A conic or frusto-conic wedge, intermediate between a drum shaft and the outer surface of the drum is selectively positioned to cause the segmented outer surface to radially expand or contract. This modification to the diameter of the outer surface of the drum causes a corresponding change in the mechanical advantage established by the variable assist pulley. The segments are preferably restrained from unchecked radial expansion by at least one radial constricting member linking the segments, and are further preferably restrained from unintentional non-radial movement by lands formed on the outer surface of the conic or frusto-conic wedge and grooves formed on the inner surface of the segmented outer surface. Those persons skilled in the art will appreciate that controlled or intended non-radial movement of the drum segments is within the scope of the invention, and such movement may be intentionally designed into the arrangement described herein.

Other embodiments of the workstation invention are directed towards providing multi-axis task surface articulation. In one series of these embodiments, a vertical track is combined with a car slidably engaged therewith. As with other embodiments, the car assembly may have a canting feature and/or a variable assist pulley feature for modifying its position along the track. In these embodiments, however, either the car, or a separate structure attached or integrated with the car, is adapted to receive a pair of vertical support members, such as through the use of a support arms interface. Preferably the vertical support members are disposed adjacent to one another, with their proximal ends rotationally held by the support arms interface. Thus, the vertical support members are free to rotate about the vertical axis.

Each vertical support member has a horizontal support arm extending from respective distal ends thereof. Each horizontal support arm includes an extending portion at a distal end thereof. The each extending portion preferably is coaxially located in a respective horizontal support arm, and increases the effective length of the support arm. A work surface attachment point is preferably located at a distal end of each extending portion, and permits rotational attachment of the work surface there at. For optimal functionality and support, the attachment points of the extending portions are preferably divergently displaced on the work surface. Thus, the work surface is supported by the distal ends of the extending portions and by the distal end of the vertical support members as well as horizontal support arms. In this manner, the work surface is free to move on these supporting surfaces, i.e., it is retained only at the attachment points, and therefore has complete planar freedom of movement.

Other features present in various embodiments of the invention include the use of modular interlocking panels to provide the framework of the workstation where tracks, support brackets and/or other panels can be interlocked with any given panel, thereby providing great flexibility in constructing a customized workstation; multipurpose stiles for receiving panels, tracks, support brackets and accessories; reversible hinge assemblies for extending work surfaces to accommodate specific user needs; and others.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a robust embodiment of the invention illustrating a primary vertical support column integrated into a workstation where the primary vertical support column is used to support a computer monitor, and further illustrating a six degrees of freedom task surface and a positionable keyboard support;

FIG. 2 is a partial perspective, exploded view of a modular stile used to receive a pair of panels and a support bracket adapted to receive a horizontal stationary work surface;

FIG. 3 is a partial perspective view of a modular panel having integrated stiles where a spanning bracket is shown attached thereto;

FIG. 4 is a cross section elevation view of the panel-stile-bracket arrangement of FIG. 2 after final assembly;

FIG. 5 is a partial perspective view of a keyboard support track with a car/pivotal mount combination;

FIG. 6 is a detailed perspective view of the car/pivotal mount combination where the linkage between the car and the mount is below the horizontal midline of the car, thereby providing for a canting feature;

FIG. 7 is a detailed exploded view of FIG. 6, particularly showing the relative positions of the various components;

FIG. 8 is a plan view of FIG. 6;

FIG. 9 is a partial cross section elevation view of FIG. 6 where the car/pivotal mount is shown in the free-sliding position;

FIG. 10 is a partial cross section elevation view of FIG. 6 where the car/pivotal mount is shown in the stationary position, with a portion of the pivotal mount impinging upon the track to arrest downward motion;

FIG. 11 is a perspective view of keyboard support system particularly illustrating the range of possible motions thereof;

FIG. 12 is a perspective, partial exploded view of a hinge assembly of the keyboard support system of FIG. 11;

FIG. 13 is an elevation view illustrating the range of motion of the hinge assembly of FIG. 12;

FIG. 14 is a perspective view of a work surface support assembly illustrating several degrees of freedom through translation of a pair of vertical support members and rotation of the same;

FIG. 15 is an isolated perspective view of the work surface support assembly of FIG. 14, particularly illustrating the independent rotation of the vertical support members and the location of a displaced pair of associated support arms;

FIG. 16 is an exploded perspective view of the components and relative arrangements and motions of the work surface support assembly of FIG. 15;

FIG. 17 is a bottom plan view of a first position of the work surface support assembly of FIG. 15 with a second position shown in phantom;

FIG. 18 is a bottom plan view of the first position of the work surface support assembly of FIG. 16 with a third position shown in phantom;

FIG. 19 is a partial perspective view of the primary vertical support column and track assembly;

FIG. 20 is an isolated detailed perspective view of a variable assist pulley used in conjunction with the assembly of FIG. 19;

FIG. 21 is a second isolated detailed perspective view of a variable assist pulley in a first position with internal parts shown in phantom;

FIG. 22 shows the pulley of FIG. 21 in a second position, namely, an enlarged drum diameter configuration after rotation of an adjusting nut and translation of a conic wedge;

FIG. 23 is an exploded perspective view of the pulley of FIG. 20;

FIG. 24 is a cross section elevation view of the pulley of FIG. 21;

FIG. 25 is a cross section elevation view of the pulley of FIG. 22;

FIG. 26 is a schematic elevation view in partial section where the car is in a lower position and a cable connecting the car to the pulley is in an extended status;

FIG. 27 is a schematic elevation view in partial section where the car is in an upper position and a cable connecting the car to the pulley is in a retracted status;

FIG. 28 is a detailed perspective view of a support arm extending from the car of the vertical support column and track illustrating the various components thereof; and

FIG. 29 is a partial exploded perspective view of the components shown in FIG. 28.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION EMBODIMENTS

The following discussion is presented to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use embodiments of the invention. Various modifications to the embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles herein may be applied to other embodiments and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. Thus, the invention is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown, but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.

The figures referenced above provide the skilled practitioner with sufficient information and guidance such that the illustrated embodiment may be constructed and used according to the invention. 

1. A workstation element comprising: a vertical column having a generally vertical track portion; a car slidingly engagable with the vertical track portion, and having means for receiving a support arm; and a motion arresting element pivotal relative to the car and having a track or column contacting portion whereby in a first mode, the coefficient of friction between the element and the track, column or track and column is insufficient to prevent bidirectional motion of the car relative to the track, and in a second mode, the coefficient of friction between the element and the track, column or track and column is sufficient to prevent at least unidirectional of the car relative to the track.
 2. The workstation element of claim 1 wherein the motion arresting element comprises the support arm receiving means.
 3. The workstation element of claim 1 wherein the motion arresting element engages the track or the column when biased in one direction but not another.
 4. The workstation element of claim 1 wherein a longitudinal axis of the car remains congruent with an axis of the track or column during operation of the motion arresting element.
 5. The workstation element of claim 1 wherein the support arm comprises a first vertical support member to which is coupled a first horizontal support having an extending portion wherein one of the first vertical support member is rotationally coupled to the support arm receiving means or the first horizontal support is rotationally coupled to the first vertical support member.
 6. The workstation element of claim 5 wherein the support arm receiving means accommodates two support arms, and the workstation element further comprises a second vertical support member to which is coupled a second horizontal support having an extending portion wherein one of the second vertical support member is rotationally coupled to the support arm receiving means or the second horizontal support is rotationally coupled to the second vertical support member.
 7. The workstation element of claim 6 further comprising a generally planar member linked to the extending portions of the first and the second horizontal supports.
 8. The workstation element of claim 5 further comprising a peripheral support member rotationally attached to the extending portion.
 9. A workstation element comprising: a vertical column having a generally vertical track portion; a car slidingly engagable with the vertical track portion, and having means for receiving a support arm; a variable assist pulley having a drum, and a rotational bias element linked to the drum and a mechanical ground; and a cable having a first end linked to the drum and a second end linked to the car whereby motion of the car imparts motion to the variable assist pulley and vice versa.
 10. The workstation element of claim 9 wherein a portion of the drum has a frusto-conical geometry.
 11. The workstation element of claim 10 wherein the cable interfaces a different portion of the drum during each revolution thereof.
 12. The workstation element of claim 9 wherein the drum circumference is user definable.
 13. The workstation element of claim 12 wherein the drum defines an axis and a axially translatable diverging element radially displaces a surface of the drum. 